Published 5/2/03
Jacob G. Schmidlapp Foundation, Fifth Third Bank Trustee Contributes $50,000 To Support Owens Community College Academic Programs

Owens Community College earlier today received a $50,000 donation from Fifth
Third Bank, on behalf of the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Foundation, to support the
enhancement of academic programs in the new Center for Fine and Performing
Arts.

Bruce K. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fifth Third Bank,
Northwestern Ohio, presented the check to Owens President Christa Adams,
Ph.D. Established in 1919, the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Foundation was created to
honor the former Fifth Third Bank president's dedication to charitable and
community development initiatives. The Foundation, for which Fifth Third
Bank serves as a trustee, provides financial support to hundreds of
nonprofit organizations nationally each year.

"Owens Community College appreciates the commitment that Fifth Third Bank
has made to higher education and students of this College," said Gary
Dettling, Owens Vice President of College Advancement and the Foundation's
President and Chief Executive Officer. "Securing private contributions, as
well as state and federal funding, is crucial to helping Owens continue to
provide students and area residents with enhanced opportunities for lifelong
learning."

Dettling added, "Fifth Third Bank's significant contribution to Owens
through the Schmidlapp Foundation will have an immediate impact on our fine
and performing arts curriculum and students aspiring to be future musicians,
artists, dancers, performers and photographers."

Owens' new $10 million Center for Fine and Performing Arts will open Fall
Semester 2003 and house 19 new degree and certificate program areas. Among
the new academic program offerings available to students are Commercial Art,
Dance, Fine Art, Interior Design, Music, Photography and Theatre.

The state-of-the-art facility also will a feature a 522-seat theatre,
50-seat music and lecture hall, student exhibit galleries, art and design
studios for graphic design, commercial art, painting, ceramics and
sculpture, as well as acoustic laboratories for the instruction of dance,
piano, vocal and instrumental music, and practice rooms.

"We are pleased to support the expanded programming of Owens Community
College's performing arts center through the Jacob G. Schmidlapp
Foundation," said President Lee. "Fifth Third, through its philanthropy,
has a long-standing history of supporting education and the arts and with
this gift we can do both."

The Owens State Community College Foundation was incorporated in April 2002
and has nearly $1 million in assets. The Foundation Board of Directors
currently is comprised of 19 community leaders from Lucas, Wood and Hancock
counties.

The mission of the Owens Foundation and its Board of Directors is
cultivating gift initiatives, targeting successful alumni, business and
industry members who are committed to investing and supporting the
educational needs of current and future Owens students. The Foundation's
focus allows Owens to continue offering affordable tuition, ensuring the
College's academic position as the best investment in Northwest Ohio.
Approximately $81,700 in scholarships was awarded to Owens students
exemplifying academic excellence and leadership during the 2002-2003
academic year.

Owens Community College is the fastest-growing higher educational
institution in Northwest Ohio with 24 consecutive semesters of enrollment
increases. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more
than 38,000 credit and non-credit students making it the number one choice
for new college students. Owens is committed to providing small classes,
personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College
offers over 130 program areas in Agriculture, Business, Fine and Performing
Arts, Health, Public Service, Skilled Trades, Industrial and Engineering
Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor
's degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or
university.